CPI-M : NDA govt of not pursuing chopper scam seriously

Saturday, Apr 30, 2016,10:49 ISTBy Metrovaartha AAA

New Delhi | Charging NDA government with not pursuing the AgustaWestland choppers scam seriously, CPI(M) asked the Centre to ensure speedy probe in the matter and demanded all who received kickbacks are prosecuted, instead of engaging in political posturing. After the Modi government came to office, two years have passed.

There has been no serious pursuit of investigation and no substantial progress made even though at the Italian end, all the material relevant to the matter has been placed before the appeal court and verdict given, CPI(M) Politburo observed in a statement.

The Politburo said the alleged ‘ruling politicians- bureaucrats-senior military officials’ nexus is such that despite a number of defence deal scandals, the system of corruption has not been uncovered and guilty punished. Instead of political posturing on the matter, the Modi government should ensure that the investigation is speedily concluded and all those involved in receiving the kickbacks brought to trial and prosecuted, it added.

The Left party though did not directly target Congress, which is under attack from ruling BJP over the deal mainly, and noted no real progress was made in investigation during the tenure of UPA, which was led by the Sonia Gandhi-headed party.

The Italian investigation and the court verdict has found that Rs 360 crore were paid as bribe in India. When this matter came to light after investigations in Italy, the UPA government had cancelled the contract and ordered a CBI investigation. However, as is evident, no real progress was made in the investigation during the UPA’s tenure, it said.